Magnet assembly for the suspension and guidance of suspended vehicles and transport systems

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a magnet assembly for the suspension and guidance of suspended vehicles and transport systems. The aim of the invention is to create an intrinsically stable, contactiess magnetic suspension and guidance system composed of an assembly of magnetic elements and a superconductor assembly for suspended vehicles and transport systems. According to the invention, at least one part of the magnetic element assembly is physically connected to the superconductor assembly. In addition, the magnetic element assembly and the superconductor assembly are magnetically intercoupled to maintain a stable distance between at least two magnetic elements, by the utilisation of a magnetic field that is frozen in the superconductor. The magnetic assembly can be used in particular in those vehicles and transport systems that are configured to be displaced along a magnetic rail without making contact with the latter, thus enabling a displacement devoid of friction and abrasion.

[0001] The invention relates to a magnet assembly for the suspension andguidance of vehicles and transport systems. The magnet assembly can beused particularly for those vehicles and transport systems, which areconstructed for locomotion along a magnetic rail without contacting thelatter and, with that, make possible a frictionless and wear-freelocomotion.

[0002] In principle, two magnets cannot assume a stable positionrelative to one another without contact or support. Any magnetictransporter system, which is based on magnetic levitation, thereforerequires a mechanical support or a control of the magnetic fields. Ifmagnetic guidance for a stable, suspended state is to be realized withthese elements, additional guiding magnets are required aside from thesupporting magnets.

[0003] A stable, contactless magnetic suspension is, however, possiblewith superconductors in suitably shaped magnetic fields since, contraryto all other materials, a superconductor either does not penetrate intothe magnetic field or, once such a magnetic field is present in itsinterior, maintains it unchanged. This is due to the fact that themagnetic flux penetrates into a superconductor in the form of fluxlines, which can be anchored at defects in the material. Accordingly, ifa superconductor, which contains many so-called pinning centers, iscooled in an inhomogeneous magnetic field to a temperature below itssuperconducting transition temperature, the form of this externalmagnetic field can be “frozen” in the respective position in thesuperconductor. If an attempt is now made to bring the superconductorout of this position, then this attempt is counteracted by a restoringforce, which may be very large. For example, if the superconductor ismade superconducting in a position, which is fixed by means of a spacera few millimeters or centimeters above a magnetic rail, thesuperconductor retains this position, even after the spacer is removed,without contacting the rail. In other words, the superconductor has arepelling as well as an attracting effect in the magnetic field. If themagnetic rail has a uniform magnetic field along its length, thesuperconductor can move along the rail without contact and, with that,also without friction and without wear.

[0004] With the help of this principle, the possibility has already beendemonstrated of the contactless transport in a state suspended above amagnetic rail, but also along a wall, which is equipped with a magneticrail, as well as freely suspended below a magnetic rail. Thedisadvantage of such an assembly lies therein that the superconductorrequires cooling. In the event that the cooling fails, such a suspendedtransporting system would crash in the absence of additional safeguards.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to create an intrinsicallystable, contactless, magnetic suspension and guidance, consisting of amagnet parts assembly and a superconductor assembly, for suspendedvehicles and transporting systems.

[0006] Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished withthe magnet assembly described in the claims.

[0007] Pursuant to the invention, the magnet parts assembly is connectedwith at least one of its parts physically with the superconductorassembly and the magnetic parts assembly and the superconductor assemblyare coupled magnetically with one another in order to main a stabledistance between at least two magnet parts, utilizing a magnetic field,which is frozen into the superconductor.

[0008] The assembly of magnet parts may consist of one or more pairs ofmutually attracting or repelling magnet parts, which are kept at astable distance from one another by the superconductor assembly.

[0009] The superconductor assembly may consist of one or moresuperconductors.

[0010] Advisably, the assembly of magnet parts may contain one or morerail-shaped magnet parts.

[0011] The magnet parts may consist of ferromagnetic, soft magnetic orferromagnetic hard magnetic materials and/or may be constructed aselectromagnets.

[0012] Instead of ferromagnetic, hard-magnetic materials, it is alsopossible to use superconductors.

[0013] In accordance with an appropriate development of the invention,the superconductor assembly is equipped with superconductors, whichconsist of a melt-texturized YBaCuO material.

[0014] In accordance with an advantageous development of the invention,the superconductor assembly is surrounded at least partially by aheat-insulating material. In addition to the superconductor assembly,the magnet parts assembly can also be surrounded at least partly with aheat-insulating material.

[0015] The superconductor assembly may be provided at least partly witha protective layer to avoid oxidation and/or the effects of moisture.

[0016] The invention is explained in greater detail below a means ofexamples. In the associated drawings,

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a contactless magnetsuspension for transporting goods,

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a furthercontactless magnet suspension for transporting goods and

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of a contactless magnetassembly at a rail vehicle.

EXAMPLE 1

[0020] For the magnetic suspension, shown in FIG. 1, two superconductors1; 2 are fastened at a distance from one another on a support 3, whichis shown only partly. The support 3 serves to accommodate goods, whichare to be transported. The superconductors 1; 2 are connected firmlywith a magnet part 4, which consists of a ferromagnetic, hard magneticmaterial. This assembly hangs at a constant distance underneath 3magnetic rails 5; 6; 7, which are disposed next to one another and havea uniform magnetic field along their length.

[0021] The outer magnetic rails 5 and 7 are poled magnetically, so thattheir north pole is at the bottom. On the other hand, the south pole ofthe other magnetic rail 6, which is disposed between the two magneticrails 5 and 7, is at the bottom.

[0022] The superconductors 1; 2 consist of melt-texturized YBaCuOmaterial. They are fixed at a distance of a few millimeters below themagnetic rails 5; 6; 7 by means of an interposed spacer, which is notshown in the drawing, and cooled in this position to a temperature belowtheir superconducting transition temperature and thereby madesuperconducting. At the same time, the form of the inhomogeneousexternal magnetic field, which, starting out from the magnetic part 4and the magnetic rails 5; 6; 7, acts on the superconductor 1; 2, isfrozen in the superconductors 1; 2 at their pinning centers. As aresult, the superconductors 1; 2 retain their position with respect tothe magnetic rails 5; 6; 7 after removal of the spacer. This refers tothe distance between the superconductors 1; 2 and the magnetic rails 5;6; 7, as well as to the position of the superconductors 1; 2transversely to the longitudinal axis of the magnetic rails 5; 6; 7. Arestoring force, which starts out from the superconductors 1; 2, actscounter to any force, which acts in the direction of a positionalchange. With that, a secure suspension, as well as the guidance of thetransporting assembly is ensured. The lateral guiding forces,perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magnetic rails 5; 6; 7,are amplified even more here by the magnet part 4.

[0023] The assembly with the support 3, consisting of thesuperconductors 1; 2 and the magnetic part 4, can be moved withoutresistance in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the magneticrails 5; 6; 7, since the magnetic rails 5; 6; 7 have a uniform magneticfield along their length. Because of the constant distance maintainedbetween the superconductors 1; 2 and the magnetic rails 5; 6; 7, thismovement is contactless and, with that, without friction and wear.

[0024] In the event of an intentional or unintentional interruption ofthe superconductor effect, the magnetic part 4 would be attracted to themagnetic rail 6, so that a crash of the assembly, consisting of thesuperconductors 1; 2, the magnet part 4 and the support 3, is avoided.

EXAMPLE 2

[0025] This example is based on the magnet assembly described in Example1 and relates to a particularly space-saving possibility.

[0026] Only a single superconductor 8, in which, however, a magnet part9 is contained, is positioned suspended here below the magnetic rails 5;6; 7, as shown in FIG. 2. The magnet part 9 consists of a ferromagnetic,hard magnetic material. The assembly, consisting of the superconductor 8and the magnet part 9, is connected with a support 10 for accommodatingtransported goods.

[0027] The outer magnet rails 5 and 7 are poled magnetically so thattheir north pole is at the bottom. On the other hand, for the magneticrail 6, which is disposed between the outer magnetic rails 5 and 7, thesouth pole is at the bottom. The magnet part 9 is disposed so that itsnorth pole is directed towards the magnetic rail 6.

[0028] The inhomogeneous, external magnetic field, which, starting outfrom the magnetic part 9 and the magnetic rails 5; 6; 7, acts on thesuperconductor 8, is frozen in the superconductor 8 at the pinningcenters of the latter. As a result, the superconductor 8 with the magnetpart 9 retains its distance from and its lateral position relative tothe magnetic rails 5; 6; 7, as described in Example 1.

[0029] Because the distance between the superconductors 8 and themagnetic rails 5; 6; 7 is kept constant, this movement is contactlessand therefore without friction and wear.

EXAMPLE 3

[0030] This example relates to the use of the inventive magnet assemblyat a rail vehicle 11 in the form of a maglev system, which movescontactlessly along a T-shaped rail 12 (FIG. 3). At the same time,electromagnets 13 are disposed at the ends of the crossmember of theT-shaped rail 12 and generate an inhomogeneous magnetic field in thevertical and lateral directions, but a uniform magnetic field in thelongitudinal direction of the rails. Superconductors 14 are disposed atthe underside of the rail vehicle 11 opposite to the electromagnets 13and exercise the function of the superconductors 1; 2, which isdescribed in Example 1, in that they ensure the suspension as well asthe guidance of the rail vehicle 11.

[0031] The rail vehicle 11 is carried suspended with the help ofelectromagnets 15, which are below the rail 12 consisting of theferromagnetic material, attractive magnetic forces existing between theelectromagnets 15 and the rail 12.

[0032] The rail vehicle 11 is driven in a known manner by a synchronouslong stator linear mentor, which is not shown in the drawing.

1. Magnet assembly for the suspension and guidance of vehicles andtransport systems, consisting of a magnet parts assembly and asuperconductor assembly, characterized in that the magnet parts assemblyis connected with at least one of its parts physically with thesuperconductor assembly and in that the magnet parts assembly and thesuperconductor assembly are coupled magnetically with one another inorder to main a stable distance between at least two magnet parts,utilizing a magnetic field, which is frozen into the superconductor. 2.The magnet assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the magnet pairsassembly consists of one or more pairs of mutually attracting orrepelling magnet parts, which are held at a stable distance from oneanother by the superconductor assembly.
 3. The magnet assembly of claim1, characterized in that the superconductor assembly consists of one ormore superconductors.
 4. The magnet assembly of claim 1, characterizedin that the magnet assembly consists of one or more rail-shaped magnetparts.
 5. The magnet assembly of claim 1, characterized in that themagnet parts consist of ferromagnetic soft magnetic or ferromagnetichard magnetic materials and/or are constructed as electromagnets.
 6. Themagnet assembly of claim 5, characterized in that superconductors areused instead of ferromagnetic, hard magnetic materials.
 7. The magnetassembly of claim 1, characterized in that the superconductor assemblyis equipped with superconductors, which consist of a melt texturizedYBaCuO material.
 8. The magnet assembly of claim 1, characterized inthat the superconductor assembly is surrounded at least partly by athermally insulating material.
 9. The magnet assembly of claims 1 and 8,characterized in that the superconductor assembly as well as the magnetparts assembly is surrounded at least partly by a thermally insulatingmaterial.
 10. The magnet assembly of claim 1, characterized in that thesuperconductor assembly is provided at least partly with a layer asprotection against oxidation and/or the effects of moisture.